Method and apparatus for processing waste material

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses are provided to process material contained in one or more drums. In one exemplary method, waste material is transferred from one or more drums to a first tank. Waste material in the first tank is agitated with an agitator contained in the first tank, and the waste material is passed from the first tank to a second tank on a mobile wheeled chassis. The method also includes transporting the second tank from a location where the first tank is located.

1. A method of processing waste material, comprising:
 transferring waste material from at least one drum to a first tank located at a location, wherein the first tank contains an agitator;  
 agitating the waste material in the first tank with the agitator;  
 passing the waste material from the first tank to a second tank, wherein the second tank is on a mobile wheeled chassis; and  
 transporting the second tank away from the location,  
 wherein the passing comprises passing the waste material from the first tank to the second tank using vacuum force.  
 
   
   
     2. A method of processing waste material, comprising:
 transferring waste material from at least one drum to a first tank located at a location, wherein the first tank contains an agitator;  
 agitating the waste material in the first tank with the agitator;  
 passing the waste material from the first tank to a second tank, wherein the second tank is on a mobile wheeled chassis; and  
 transporting the second tank away from the location,  
 wherein the location is an industrial area where the waste material is generated.  
 
   
   
     3. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transferring comprises transferring waste material from a plurality of drums to the first tank. 
   
   
     4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the waste material is transferred from each of the drums to the first tank one drum at a time. 
   
   
     5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the transferring comprises dumping waste material from each of the drums into the first tank. 
   
   
     6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the agitating comprises mixing together waste material from the plurality of drums. 
   
   
     7. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transferring comprises dumping waste material from the at least one drum into the first tank. 
   
   
     8. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transferring comprises transferring the waste material from the at least one drum to the first tank using vacuum force. 
   
   
     9. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transferring comprises transferring the waste material directly from the at least one drum to the first tank. 
   
   
     10. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one drum has a volume of about 55 gallons. 
   
   
     11. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the waste material transferred from the at least one drum to the first tank comprises liquid waste material. 
   
   
     12. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the waste material transferred from the at least one drum to the first tank comprises a combination of liquid waste material and at least one of solid material and semi-solid material. 
   
   
     13. The method of  claim 12 , wherein the agitating comprises blending the liquid waste material and said at least one of solid and semi-solid material so as to form a slurry. 
   
   
     14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the passing comprises flowing the slurry to the second tank. 
   
   
     15. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising placing the at least one drum in a drum processing area where the transferring takes place. 
   
   
     16. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the waste material comprises waste material generated during an industrial process. 
   
   
     17. The method of  claim 2 , wherein at least part of the waste material is flammable. 
   
   
     18. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the agitator contained in the first tank comprises at least one rotatable set of blades, and wherein the agitating comprises rotating the rotatable set of blades. 
   
   
     19. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the rotating of the rotatable set of blades directs liquid in the first tank toward a floor of the first tank. 
   
   
     20. The method of  claim 18 , wherein the agitator further comprises at least one rotatable auger, and wherein the agitating further comprises rotating the rotatable auger. 
   
   
     21. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the agitator comprises a rotatable auger, and wherein the agitating comprises rotating the rotatable auger. 
   
   
     22. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising sensing the amount of material in the first tank. 
   
   
     23. The method of  claim 22 , wherein the sensing of the amount of material in the first tank comprises sensing when the level of material in the first tank reaches a predetermined level, and wherein the method further comprises providing an indication that the sensed level of material in the first tank has reached the predetermined level. 
   
   
     24. The method of  claim 22 , further comprising providing an indication of the sensed amount, wherein the providing comprises transmitting information via a network. 
   
   
     25. The method of  claim 24 , further comprising transporting the second tank to the location. 
   
   
     26. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the second tank comprises an agitator configured to agitate waste material passed to the second tank, and wherein the method further comprises agitating waste material in the second tank. 
   
   
     27. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transporting further comprises transporting the second tank to a facility configured to provide at least one of disposal and incineration of waste material, and wherein the method further comprises off-loading material from the second tank at the facility. 
   
   
     28. The method of  claim 2 , further comprising transporting the second tank to a second location where a third tank is located, wherein the third tank contains waste material from at least one drum, and wherein the method further comprises passing waste material from the third tank to the second tank. 
   
   
     29. The method of  claim 28 , wherein the third tank contains an agitator, and wherein the method further comprises agitating waste material in the third tank with the agitator contained in the third tank. 
   
   
     30. The method of  claim 2 ,
 wherein the method further comprises scraping, with a scraper, waste material in the at least one drum.  
 
   
   
     31. The method of  claim 30 , further comprising removing the scraper from the drum. 
   
   
     32. The method of  claim 2 , wherein the transporting does not include transporting the first tank.